And this is why we will all be riding conversions.....

**Dirtcrasher** · 08-01-2017, 12:45 PM

Just modify something that is still made and will have your parts for the next 20 years.

Should we start investing and hoarding TRX450 parts because those parts may get rare?? Doesn't seem like Honda wants to even make that quad anymore!!

The prices for used parts has gone crazy; I can no longer find the parts I'd like to have spares of. Of course I have a ton of used and NOS stuff already but if I needed something, it doesn't look like EBAY could help much.....

BTW - I found this within 300 listed items on 1.5 pages

**Shawn Powell** · 08-01-2017, 01:00 PM

I don't understand the museum pieces anyways. My PRM grab bar is way better then they OEM one and cost 89$ brand new. I'd rather rebuild and polish my OEM forks than scratch 1200$ nos forks. But I ride my 350x so maybe that's where I went wrong.

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**Dirtcrasher** · 08-01-2017, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Shawn Powell

I don't understand the museum pieces anyways. My PRM grab bar is way better then they OEM one and cost 89$ brand new. I'd rather rebuild and polish my OEM forks than scratch 1200$ nos forks. But I ride my 350x so maybe that's where I went wrong.

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I agree 100% and I too run the PRM bar.

There will always be someone building a bone stock NOS or great quality 3 wheeler. So there is some demand.

Some people do and or are willing to pay big money. But 4K for a take out motor and 325$ for a grab bar are just a bit steep

It just wouldn't make sense to pay that much UNLESS you are very wealthy.

I recently found a man that has 2 1986 crated 250R's. He won't put them together just yet but he's planning to.

He's a humble guy and it was hard to get outta him but he did tell me what where when and how etc etc.

But that's the type of guy that if he scratched the grab bar, he'd pay that much for it.

I've said it before, EBAY is drying up and the prices are soaring. I sold off allot of NOS stuff this past 7 months because I would never need them and had 2 or 3 of the same so selling 1 was no biggie.

But I'm glad I bought what I bought when I did...

**jb2wheels** · 08-01-2017, 05:26 PM

Those prices do hurt.
Correct restorations cost $$$.

Fortunately, decent riders do not.

My current favorite to ride is my $1000 T3 beater.

I guarantee I'm not spending $10k on a restoration ever.
Or a conversion for that matter.

I'm too cheap.

**Arky-X** · 08-01-2017, 06:59 PM

That's unreal. My brother and I ran across a total of 8 of the NOS take-off engines in our prime and never paid more than $300 for any of them. My first one cost me $100 and it is the one on the bike now. Even back in the mid-90s people were willing to pay $500-700 for one of those just to put on their 250x/300ex. That's where the rest of ours went.

It scares me knowing I am rebuilding mine now but I think I have a stash of the essential pieces so it won't be too $bad$. Besides, I have bought or plan on buying aftermarket and selling my OEM crap once it is back together......especially seeing some of these prices. Just have to keep an eye out for the pieces that are readily available so they don't disappear like the PRM grab bar and skids. I wasn't planning on buying those just yet but I didn't have a choice. That was a tough story to sell to the wife.

**Shawn Powell** · 08-01-2017, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Dirtcrasher

I agree 100% and I too run the PRM bar.

There will always be someone building a bone stock NOS or great quality 3 wheeler. So there is some demand.

Some people do and or are willing to pay big money. But 4K for a take out motor and 325$ for a grab bar are just a bit steep

It just wouldn't make sense to pay that much UNLESS you are very wealthy.

I recently found a man that has 2 1986 crated 250R's. He won't put them together just yet but he's planning to.

He's a humble guy and it was hard to get outta him but he did tell me what where when and how etc etc.

But that's the type of guy that if he scratched the grab bar, he'd pay that much for it.

I've said it before, EBAY is drying up and the prices are soaring. I sold off allot of NOS stuff this past 7 months because I would never need them and had 2 or 3 of the same so selling 1 was no biggie.

But I'm glad I bought what I bought when I did...

Those NOS forks on eBay were originally on Craig's list for 400$. I was gonna buy them just cause mine are all scratched up. By the time I got off work ad was pulled and guy wouldn't answer his phone. Same evening there on eBay for 1200. And I was going to gut them and put all my racetech stuff inside!! Hahaha blasphemy I know right? I ride mine. And I ride it hard. Flipped it for the first time about a month ago. Bent my bars. Got new ones. Didn't care. I'll never understand a guy who has two crate bikes from 1986. He'll never understand me either. All in fun in the end. But yeah hopefully people keep supporting the aftermarket. Hopefully we can find someone to take over where PRM left off all goes correct I'll be building a 200x next year gonna need some upgrades.

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**Shawn Powell** · 08-01-2017, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Arky-X

That's unreal. My brother and I ran across a total of 8 of the NOS take-off engines in our prime and never paid more than $300 for any of them. My first one cost me $100 and it is the one on the bike now. Even back in the mid-90s people were willing to pay $500-700 for one of those just to put on their 250x/300ex. That's where the rest of ours went.

It scares me knowing I am rebuilding mine now but I think I have a stash of the essential pieces so it won't be too $bad$. Besides, I have bought or plan on buying aftermarket and selling my OEM crap once it is back together......especially seeing some of these prices. Just have to keep an eye out for the pieces that are readily available so they don't disappear like the PRM grab bar and skids. I wasn't planning on buying those just yet but I didn't have a choice. That was a tough story to sell to the wife.

I have an extra 350x engine skid , 2 grab bars and a 200x engine skid swinger skid and and extra six pack rack ( plus those swap) I only own one 350x at the moment. Haha. Luckily she doesn't go into the barn ever.

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**ebaccm26** · 08-01-2017, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by Dirtcrasher

I recently found a man that has 2 1986 crated 250R's. He won't put them together just yet but he's planning to.

He's a humble guy and it was hard to get outta him but he did tell me what where when and how etc etc.

Do tell...

**atc007** · 08-01-2017, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by ebaccm26

Do tell...

If people like him wanted people to tell,,,,they would have long ago. You would be very surprised what all is out there that is not blabbed about.

**ebaccm26** · 08-01-2017, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by atc007

If people like him wanted people to tell,,,,they would have long ago. You would be very surprised what all is out there that is not blabbed about.

I wouldn't be that surprised at all by what's out there. In my experience everyone wants to share their secret with someone and most of the time that someone isn't you but if you don't make your interest known it definitely won't be you.

**sledcrazyinCT** · 08-01-2017, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by ebaccm26

I wouldn't be that surprised at all by what's out there. In my experience everyone wants to share their secret with someone and most of the time that someone isn't you but if you don't make your interest known it definitely won't be you.

So true! As my handle implies I am a vintage sled nut and it is good to let folks know you are an enthusiast.....never know what might turn up

**sledcrazyinCT** · 08-01-2017, 09:08 PM

Sure enough conversions are going to be what keeps three wheeling possible for future generations

Building any 'toy' requires shopping around.....at least those with a budget. I've learned don't always buy the first thing you see on fleabay as next week a better one sold for a lower price with trike parts. NOS is too rich for my blood
generally but when scarce and the search has been for years then I will gladly cough up the cash

**Matt85'350x** · 08-01-2017, 11:06 PM

The conversions are appealing but the problem for me is the quad or bike in stock form are great machines. Hard to justify taking apart a brand new machine just so you can spend more money on it. Don't get me wrong I fully plan to have a 450 trike one day but it certainly is more expensive to have a trike then to ride the machine that isn't banned in so many places already.

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**Dirtcrasher** · 08-09-2017, 09:01 PM

I basically had to show him my RX in person, and showed him all the 450 conversions I had on my phone just to get it outta him.

Funny, he waited for the kid to go outside before he finally told me

And he STILL warned me of talking about it. He said, "there is not and never will be a price tag on them".

**inv3ctiv3** · 08-23-2017, 02:34 PM

I sold a pristine 1985 350x for like $1500 a few years ago and that is one thing I will always regret, I'll never get one again in that condition for anywhere near that price....I remember when those take out motors were like $900 and we all thought that was a lot, $3900 is absolutely ridiculous! The day I sold it just for reference, all fenders and parts were there in perfect condition:

The Final Farewell - 350X by Jim Bob Barnett, on Flickr

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And this is why we will all be riding conversions.....